Future Students:

2004

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University baseball team jumped up 10 positions to seventh in the latest Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll released Monday (Feb. 23), the highest-ever national ranking for the Patriot program.

FMU shares the No. 7 spot with Slippery Rock University, while Central Missouri State University maintains its hold on the top position in the poll.

Francis Marion won three of five games last week, including two wins over then third-ranked and Peach Belt Conference preseason favorite Kennesaw State University. One of the Patriots’ losses was a 13-11, 11-inning slugfest to Presbyterian College.

Francis Marion was ranked as high as 12th last season and was ranked 12th once during the 1993 campaign.

The 6-3 Patriots return to action on Wednesday when they play host to Barton College in a 2 p.m. contest. FMU plays a three-game PBC series this weekend at Augusta State University.

The Patriots own a team batting average of .308, led by junior center fielder and Darlington native Quentin Davis, with his .474 average, two home runs, and 11 runs batted in. Senior starters Erin Jones (2-0, 1.80 earned run average) and Phil Padgett (3-0, 6.75 ERA) lead the Patriot pitching staff.

In addition to the Patriots, four other Peach Belt schools appear in this week’s Top 30.